U.S. patent application number 17/407636 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-24 for impact reduction footwear through heel and metatarsal cavities.
The applicant listed for this patent is Romeo & Juliette, Inc.. Invention is credited to Craig Taylor.
Application Number | 20220053880 17/407636 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005851684 |
Filed Date | 2022-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220053880 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taylor; Craig |
February 24, 2022 |
IMPACT REDUCTION FOOTWEAR THROUGH HEEL AND METATARSAL CAVITIES
Abstract
A three-layered article of footwear construction having an
outsole, midsole, and footbed. The outsole is made out of a rubber
and has a mating relationship with the midsole. The midsole is made
of a single density blown ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA).
The midsole includes a first air cavity in the forefoot region and
a second air cavity in the hind foot. The air cavities act like a
suspension units under the impact areas of a foot giving improved
impact reduction and help in reducing muscular and joint stress,
fatigue, and impact during the normal walking gait motion. The
footbed is made of a dual-density EVA. The dual density of the
footbed allows for a greater flexibility and cushioning in the
forefoot and heel regions due to its lighter density and provides
greater support and stability around the perimeter area of the
footbed due to its heavier density.
Inventors: |
Taylor; Craig; (Citrus
Heights, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Romeo & Juliette, Inc. |
Citrus Heights |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005851684 |
Appl. No.: |
17/407636 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63068348 |
Aug 20, 2020 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/188 20130101;
A43B 13/04 20130101; A43B 13/023 20130101; A43B 13/20 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/20 20060101
A43B013/20; A43B 13/04 20060101 A43B013/04; A43B 13/18 20060101
A43B013/18; A43B 13/02 20060101 A43B013/02 |
Claims
1. An article of footwear, comprising: (a) a footbed layer having a
first material with a first density and a second material with a
second density that is lighter than the first density; (b) a
midsole layer having a forefoot region and a hindfoot region, the
forefoot region including a first air cavity on a proximal face of
the midsole layer, the hindfoot region including a second air
cavity on the proximal face of the midsole layer, the midsole layer
being attached to the footbed layer; (c) an outsole layer that is
attached to the midsole layer.
2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the
article of footwear comprises a shoe.
3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the
midsole layer is made of ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) with a third
density of 65 durometers.
4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first
material comprises EVA with the first density comprising 65
durometers.
5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the second
material comprises EVA with the second density comprising 35
durometers.
6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first
air cavity is filled with a poron insert.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 63/068,348 (Attorney Docket No. 60558-0018)
entitled IMPACT REDUCTION FOOTWEAR THROUGH HEEL AND METATARSAL
CAVITIES, filed Aug. 20, 2020, the contents of which are
incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth
herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to footwear, and in
particular an article of footwear with heel and metatarsal cavities
for impact reduction.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Numerous shoes, covering a broad range of different designs
and styles have been manufactured and sold in the marketplace.
While shoes are worn to provide protection to one's feet, to reduce
the impact felt when walking on hard surfaces, to provide support
for the feet, and to prevent pronation, shoe designers must still
seek to provide optimum levels of stability and comfort.
[0004] In order to accomplish all of these objectives, shoe
designers have used a wide variety of different tools and methods
including heel plugs, shanks, contoured soles, deformable pillars
or columns, spring-like structures, different traction designs,
cushioning members, different shank designs, different ventilation
structures, rocker elements, pads, gels, and sole constructions
having a plurality of different layers.
[0005] Although some these methods can be somewhat effective,
techniques are desired to further improve impact reduction and help
in reducing muscular and joint stress, fatigue, and impact during
the normal walking gait motion.
[0006] The approaches described in this section are approaches that
could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been
previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise
indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches
described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of
their inclusion in this section. Further, it should not be assumed
that any of the approaches described in this section are
well-understood, routine, or conventional merely by virtue of their
inclusion in this section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the drawings:
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an article of
footwear constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the footbed
mating with the midsole constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an article of footwear as
shown in FIG. 1
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] In the following description, for the purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will
be apparent, however, that the present invention may be practiced
without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to
avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
General Overview
[0012] The present invention is directed to an article of footwear
construction which includes an outsole, midsole, and footbed. The
three components of the article of footwear are preferably secured
together through conventional means such as through cementing
and/or adhesives thereby preventing relative movement between the
layers during assembly and use of the article of footwear. Each of
the three layers of the article of footwear are generally in the
shape of a human foot and can be divided into different sections
according to the three different regions of the human foot--the
forefoot, the midfoot, and the hind foot. The forefoot is generally
adjacent to and includes the toe area; the hind foot is generally
adjacent to and includes the heel area; and the midfoot is located
adjacent to both the forefoot and the hind foot. The ball of the
foot is generally the area of the foot at the juncture between the
metatarsal bones and the phalange bones. The two primary regions of
the foot for load bearing when walking or standing normally are the
ball area and the heel area, and the major bending of the shoe
during normal use is typically in the ball area.
[0013] The outsole is made out of a rubber, such as for example, a
super lightweight thermoplastic rubber (TPR) and includes an
exterior and interior face. The exterior face of the outsole
engages the ground or other walking surfaces, while the interior
face is located opposite the exterior face and has a mating
relationship with the midsole.
[0014] The midsole is made of a single density blown ethylene-vinyl
acetate copolymer (EVA). The EVA creates a lightweight and
resilient midsole, which helps dissipate shock when walking or
running. In addition to the material itself, the single density of
the midsole allows for flexibility and cushioning in the forefoot
and heel regions due to its lighter density. The midsole includes a
proximal and distal face. The distal face of the midsole mates with
the outsole. The proximal face of the midsole mates with the
footbed. The midsole includes a first air cavity in the forefoot
region and a second air cavity in the hind foot region of the
proximal face. The first air cavity may include a poron insert that
rests in the first air cavity. These air cavities act like a
suspension units under the impact areas of a foot giving improved
impact reduction and help in reducing muscular and joint stress,
fatigue, and impact during the normal walking gait motion.
[0015] The footbed is made of a dual-density EVA. The footbed has a
top face and a bottom face, wherein the top face engages with the
foot of a wearer and the bottom face is attached to the midsole. In
addition to the material itself, the dual density of the footbed
allows for a greater flexibility and cushioning in the forefoot and
heel regions due to its lighter density and provides greater
support and stability around the perimeter area of the footbed due
to its heavier density.
[0016] The present three layer article of footwear construction
enhances comfort and creates a unique trampoline shock absorption
effect when placed under pressure of a foot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals refer to
like parts throughout the disclosure. For purposes of clarity in
illustrating the characteristics of the present invention,
proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily
been maintained in the drawing figures.
[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an article of footwear constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes
an outsole, a midsole, and a footbed. The combination of the three
layers provides enhanced comfort and creates a unique trampoline
shock absorption effect when placed under pressure of a foot. The
layers of the present shoe are preferably secured together in a
conventional manner such as through cementing and/or adhesives
thereby preventing relative movement between the layers during
assembly and use of the present shoe.
[0019] The outsole 102 is made out of a rubber, such as a super
lightweight thermoplastic rubber (TPR) and includes an exterior
face (not shown in FIG. 1) and an interior face as shown in FIG. 1.
The exterior face of the outsole 102 engages with the ground or
other walking surfaces, while the interior face has a mating
relationship with the midsole 104.
[0020] The midsole 104 is made of a single density EVA. In some
embodiments, the density of the midsole is 65 durometers. In some
embodiments, the density of the midsole is a range of 45-96
durometers. The EVA creates a lightweight and resilient midsole
104, which helps dissipate shock when walking or running. In
addition to the material itself, the single density of the midsole
104 allows for flexibility and cushioning in the forefoot and heel
regions due to its lighter density. The midsole 104 includes a
proximal face as shown in FIG. 1 and distal face (not shown in FIG.
1). The distal face of the midsole 104 mates with the outsole 102.
The proximal face of the midsole 104 mates with the footbed 114.
The midsole includes a first air cavity 106 in the forefoot region
and a second air cavity 108 in the hind foot region of the proximal
face. The first air cavity 106 may include a poron insert 110 that
rests in the first air cavity 106. In some embodiments, the second
air cavity 108 may include a poron insert 112 that rests in the
second air cavity 108. The layer of poron impact reduction material
laid into the air cavities creates further impact reduction when a
foot strikes the ground. Each of the first air cavity 106 and
second air cavity 108 are open air cavities and do not include any
encapsulated air, such as an air bag.
[0021] The footbed 114 is made of a dual-density lightweight EVA.
In some embodiments, the dual-density of the footbed includes
densities of 65 durometers and 35 durometers. The footbed 114 has a
top face as shown in FIG. 1 and a bottom face (not shown in FIG.
1). The top face engages with the foot of a wearer and the bottom
face attached to the midsole 104. In addition to the material
itself, the dual density of the footbed 114 allows for a greater
flexibility and cushioning in the forefoot and heel regions due to
its lighter density and provides greater support and stability
around the perimeter area of the footbed due to its heavier
density. The dual-density nature of the footbed 114 in discussed in
detail with respect to FIG. 2. In some embodiments, footbed 114
includes a leather cover on the top face.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the footbed 114
from FIG. 1 mating with the midsole 104 from FIG. 1. Specifically,
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the hind foot region of
footbed 114 mating with the hind foot region of midsole 104,
exposing a cross-section of second air cavity 108. FIG. 2 also
shows a dual-density configuration of the footbed 114, which
includes density 202 and density 204.
[0023] In one embodiment, density 202 fills the top face perimeter
and side face perimeters of footbed 114 as shown in FIG. 2, and in
some embodiments, comprises a density of 65 durometers. Density 204
fills the inside of footbed 114 and the majority of the bottom face
perimeter of footbed 114 as shown in FIG. 2, and in some
embodiments, comprises a density of 35 durometers. The dual density
of the footbed 114 allows for a greater flexibility and cushioning
in the forefoot and heel regions due to its lighter density and
provides greater support and stability around the perimeter area of
the footbed 114 due to its heavier density.
[0024] In some embodiments, density 202 fills the side face
perimeters of footbed 114 around the entire footbed 114. For
example, density 202 may fill the side perimeter area around the
outside surface of footbed 114. Density 204 fills the inside of
footbed 114, including the majority of the top face perimeter and
bottom face perimeter.
[0025] In some embodiments, densities 202, 204 may range +-20
durometers. For example, density 202 may be a density in a range of
45-85 durometers. As another example, density 204 may be a density
of 15-55 durometers.
[0026] By combining the specific material and densities of the
footbed 114 with the specific material and densities of the midsole
104, the air cavities, such as second air cavity 108 as shown in
FIG. 2, act as suspension units under the impact areas of a foot,
providing improved impact reduction and help in reducing muscular
and joint stress, fatigue, and impact during the normal walking
gait motion. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when pressure is
applied to the hindfoot region of footbed 114, the hindfoot region
of footbed 114 is suspended by second air cavity 108 of midsole
104, effectively providing improved impact reduction.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the article of footwear
shown in FIG. 1. For example, FIG. 4 includes the outsole 102,
midsole 104, poron insert 110 that rests in first air cavity 106
from FIG. 1, poron insert 112 that rests in the second air cavity
108 from FIG. 1, and footbed 114.
* * * * *